“Indeed,” she murmured, reminding herself of Shivnath. It was time to act like the dragon god, like royalty, like she was the b****y Empress of Allentria. She would walk into that throne room and she would not take no for an answer.
Viran offered his arm to her. Keriya hesitated. Was this unfamiliar gesture similar to the Allentrian custom where people shook hands? She held her arm out in a similar fashion, mimicking Viran. Smiling, he gently took her hand and brought her arm to rest on his own. Why did her heart jump at his touch? She couldn’t afford to feel this way—it complicated everything.
“Incidentally,” he added as he opened the door for her, “the dynast believes the more ties Jidaeln has to Allentria, the better position he’ll be in to negotiate a lucrative trade deal.”
They ste
